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Unigen Awarded Third US Patent for Novel Joint Health Ingredient

Unigen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | May 18, 2009

Unigen has received a new US utility patent for Univestin, a proprietary joint care product, with claims for alleviating joint discomfort and stiffness, and improving mobility, range of motion, flexibility and physical function.

The new patent (7,514,469) is the third US patent for Univestin and its claims cover compositions that comprise an extract derived from Scutellaria enriched for free-B-ring flavonoids, combined with an extract derived from Acacia enriched for flavans. The novel compositions were discovered by screening Unigen’s proprietary Phytologix collection of medicinal plant extracts to identify natural substances that inhibit the pro-inflammation enzymes cyclooxygenase (“COX 1 and COX 2”) and 5’-lipoxygenase (“LOX”). The claims associated with the newly issued patent also cover formulations of bioflavonoid extracts from Scutellaria and Acacia in combination with other well-known joint care ingredients such as glucosamine, chondroitin, vitamin D, and calcium.

Unigen’s Chief Science Officer and the patent’s lead inventor Dr. Qi Jia said “The synergistic effects of the distinct bioflavonoid mixture derived from two well-known medicinal plants are truly remarkable. We utilized extensive in vitro and in vivo testing to demonstrate that Univestin provides rapid and long lasting relief of both joint discomfort and impaired physical function through modulating the COX and LOX pathways as well as the pro-inflammatory cytokine system”.

Unigen and its commercial partners have conducted multiple human clinical trials to demonstrate the significant joint health benefits of Univestin. The proprietary composition is currently used in a number of leading nationally distributed dietary supplement joint care products.

Recognizing growing consumer demand for natural solutions for improved joint health, Dr. Ed Cannon, CEO and President of Unigen stated that “Unigen will continue to expand Univestin geographically into new global markets and to further develop Univestin and other related compositions for additional benefits, including oral care, metabolic disorders, and animal joint health”. The new patent will further strengthen Univestin’s position in the joint health market as a leading provider of effective, safe and affordable natural solutions for the dietary supplement, food, cosmetics, personal care and pharmaceutical industries.

About Unigen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Unigen is a global leader in the discovery and development of proprietary natural ingredients for the dietary supplement, food, cosmetics, personal care and pharmaceutical industries. The company has one of the most extensive medicinal plant collections in the world and utilizes a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical discovery approach to identify the most safe and effective botanically-based proprietary ingredients. The efficacy of Unigen’s natural product ingredients is established through human clinical trials, and unlike synthetic drugs, Unigen’s natural substances have a legacy of safe human consumption without the undesirable side-effects that limit the use of pharmaceuticals. Unigen protects its discoveries through patents and commercializes its products through alliances with partners that possess distribution and marketing capabilities in each of Unigen’s target markets.